NZ shares join global stock rout as weak manufacturing points to slowing Chinese economy

NZ shares join global stock rout as weak manufacturing points to slowing Chinese economy
Sophie Boot
By Sophie Boot Jan. 5 (BusinessDesk) - New Zealand's benchmark S&P/NZX 50 Index dropped 1.1 percent, joining a global slide in equity markets after figures showed a worsening contraction in Chinese manufacturing. The S&P/NZX 50 Index fell 70.09 points to 6254.17 in the first trading day of 2016, having climbed about 13 percent in 2015 to end the year at a record 6324.26. The Caixin/Markit China Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI), fell to 48.2 in December, from 48.6 in November, below the 50-point level that separates contra...